Oct 7 (FT) President�s Media Division (PMD) issued a statement yesterday expressing its concerns about an editorial in the Sinhala-language Catholic newspaper Gnanartha Pradeepaya on 8 October which called for an international investigation into the Easter Sunday attack. According to the PMD, on 20 April the Public Security Minister Tiran Alles handed over the comprehensive Prez Commission report on the Easter Attack, consisting of 88 volumes and 48,909 pages, more..

Oct 9 (TM) Reacting to unfortunate incidents which arise from state officials� negligence is done with such precision in SL, it ought to be classified as a tradition. SL state apparatus, and much of our community, believe in post-incident action. We are not, going by decades of tragedies and mishaps, fond of taking preventive action, or building resilience to reduce the impact of threats and challenges which often loom on the horizon � long enough to notice, but not be taken seriously. more..

Oct 9 (ST)IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) formed in 1997 by India and South Africa meets next week under the chairmanship of SL at a time when the seas are simmering with geopolitical undercurrents. Every ship at a SL port of call is viewed with suspicion; sometimes for good reason, sometimes for no reason. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of yesteryear recognised that world powers of the time would contest for supremacy in the sea lanes that connect the West with the East more..

Oct 9 (ST) In recent times, it has become a trend where unannounced train strikes by various trade unions are a new norm at the expense of more than a million commuters who use the service on a daily basis. Whether the cause could be engaging in such trade union action can be justified on ethical and moral grounds is something unions have to ponder as this week�s surprise strike revealed a petty argument over a cigarette more..

Oct 9 (DM) In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed the legality of the SLMC� decision to expel Minister Naseer Ahamad from the party, resulting in the forfeiture of his parliamentary seat. The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court concluded that there were no grounds to challenge the party�s decision. The expulsion by the SLMC stemmed from his vote in support of the budget on Dec 10, 2021. The verdict serves as a reminder for all Politicians about the importance of more..

Oct 9 (DM) The escalating number of road accidents in our country demands urgent and comprehensive action to bring the situation under control. Road accidents have become a grave concern, with a steady rise in fatalities and injuries. In 2021, there were 2,414 fatal road accidents in the country. The death toll was 2,513. A total of 6,401 people were seriously injured in the accidents, leaving them permanently disabled. Over 700 persons have died in road accidents within the first four months more..

Oct 9 (ST) That SL�s public health services are free from the cradle to the grave is known worldwide. However, the deterioration of the health services�widespread corruption, import of poor-quality medicinal drugs or their nonavailability and medical negligence among others�is fast ruining this image. Ironic enough, it is affecting a vast segment of Sri Lankans, from the rich to the poor, fearfully raising the spectre of death more..

Oct 9 (Island) JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said the govt is planning to abolish the executive presidency because it is unable to face the next presidential election due in 2024. The term of the current Parliament ends in 2025, and the govt is trying to go on savouring power by avoiding elections until such time, Dissanayake has said. There is hardly anything that the beleaguered SLPP-UNP combine will not do to retain its hold on power. It has already caused the LG polls more..

Oct 9 (TM) After the Govt secured a fail grade from the IMF as far as the debt restructuring process was concerned following the first review, leading to the multilateral lender withholding the second tranche of the $ 2.9 billion bailout, more bad news followed last week with the IMF�s first-ever Governance Diagnostic Assessment (GDA) handing out yet another fail grade � this time for governance, casting a shadow over the entire economic recovery effort. The much-awaited assessment report more..

Oct 9 (Island) Disasters cannot be postponed. Certainly, they cannot be prevented with 100% certainty. What govts do is to do their best to minimise the risk, based on expert advice. They err on the side of caution so that the population is satisfied that their govt has done the utmost. But not in Sri Lanka! On 24 Sept, the print media reported that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera had decided to postpone repairs to the Samanalawewa leakage until 2025. No reason was given. more..

Oct 9 (CT) Around the world, as social progression occurs parallel to development, societal changes are taking place, which eventually prompt new policy decisions to promote inclusivity and equality. Not so long ago it was a crime to be a homosexual in the West but now, in many parts of the Western world, sexual orientation is not bound by law or at least the societal perception of sexual orientation is much broader. The same goes for sex work, which although illegal in many countries including more..

Oct 9 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe unveiled an ambitious 10-year initiative aimed at boosting agriculture and tourism in the Eastern Province, with a particular focus on the development of Trincomalee. He highlighted plans to harness the untapped potential of the Mahaweli A and B zones in the Batticaloa district, previously overlooked by Mahaweli projects. Additionally, a comprehensive tourism strategy spanning more..

Oct 9 (EN) SL�s remittances coming through official channels went up to US$ 482.4 million in Sept 2023, up 34% from US$ 359.3 million a year earlier, amid more consistent monetary policy which has helped appreciate the currency. However official remittances are down for the third month in a row. SL�s external sector started to stabilize in Sept 2022, when the CB started to run balance of payments surpluses after ending money printing to sterilize interventions made with Indian Asian more..

Oct 9 (CI) Chepauk was such a furnace on Sunday afternoon that it almost felt like 45 degrees in an air-conditioned press box. The spectators spread towels over their heads in the open stands. Australia's batters took impromptu drinks breaks, and found shelter under umbrellas, with ice towels on their necks, during those breaks. Soon after the powerplay, Steven Smith and David Warner traded their helmets for caps. Chennai's suffocating heat and humidity was getting to them. more..

Oct 9 (FT) In an exemplary initiative that strengthens its commitment to SL�s smallholder dairy farming community, Fonterra Brands Lanka has been tirelessly working on a multifaceted Farmer Support Program. Presently concentrating on the regions where Fonterra operates in Sri Lanka, this program showcases the company�s dedication to giving back to the community and ensuring the well-being of those who drive the nation�s dairy industry. Several key pillars underpin this program, more..

Oct 9 (Island) Mad Mobile Inc, an industry leader focused on empowering industries with technology that drives mobile experiences, announced the alignment of its SL Operations as it transitions from CAKE Engineering to Mad Mobile LK. The alignment of brand represents a shift for its SL Operations as it brings all its business units under a single, unified identity and purpose, where in addition to driving innovation for CAKE POS, Mad Mobile LK will be supporting organization�s entire product suite. more..

Oct 9 (FT) EDB Chairman Dr. Kingsley Bernard emphasised the need for a concerted effort among stakeholders, Govt agencies and exporter organisations to propel SL�s apparel industry to a projected $ 8 billion powerhouse by 2025. �The apparel industry occupies an important position within the socio-economic fabric of SL. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders, especially the State and Govt organisations to support more..

Oct 9 (FT) DP Education, under the Dhammika and Priscilla Perera Foundation, was honoured with The Disruptor accolade at the Bett Asia Awards held in Bangkok, Thailand last week. This prestigious award distinguishes trailblazers who employ innovative tech solutions to redefine education, making it more relevant for the modern age. The annual Bett Asia Awards celebrate and champion the EdTech trendsetters and innovators who are revolutionising education across the Asia-Pacific region. more..

Oct 9 (FT) Tourism sector has surged ahead in 2023, with earnings totalling nearly $ 1.5 billion in the first nine months of the year, alongside a notable influx of over 1.01 million visitors. Tourism earnings in the third quarter of 2023 were over $ 1.45 billion, reflecting a staggering 67% surge from the corresponding period of last year. September earnings stood at $ 152.2 million but witnessed a 28% dip from August. This dip is attributed to Sept falling short of its monthly arrivals target. more..

Oct 9 (FT) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva proposed an alternative Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxation system aimed at addressing the significant outflow of professionals from the country. MP said the SJB had engaged in discussions with the Professionals Trade Union Alliance, which comprises more than 40 trade unions representing diverse sectors. The MP noted that during these discussions, issue of the substantial PAYE more..

Oct 9 (AD) Two students have reportedly drowned after a small boat carrying six teenage boys capsized in Navalady Lagoon in Batticaloa today (O8). It has been reported that the students in question had gone boat riding using a small raft in the Navalady Lagoon to make a �TikTok� video. The incident took place at around 12.00 noon today, according to the reporter. The two deceased students aged 18 and 19 are identified as residents of the Shilamanan area of Batticaloa, more..

Oct 9 (AD) Two women who were employed as housemaids at a residence in the Brown�s Hill area of Matara have been found murdered, police said. The owner of the house where they were employed at, had gone outside at the time and upon returning home she had observed that the two maids were not in the house, and therefore had searched for them together with the neighbors. The bodies of the two women were then discovered inside the bathroom used by them, police revealed. more..

Oct 9 (DM) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a directive, urging against the use of his images on billboards, cut-outs and posters, a statement from the PMD said. He has also called upon fellow political leaders to avoid incorporating their photos in their campaign materials. Prez Wickremesinghe emphasised the importance of addressing the people's needs over the politics of slogans, noting that such practices have adversely affected the country's economy. more..

Oct 9 (DM) Local professionals leaving SL for greener pastures owing to the country�s present heavy taxing policies could be prevented if the govt takes measures to seize massive Excise frauds and save tax revenue for the state coffers, said Dr. Harsha de Silva. MP said due to massive fraud in the Excise industry, the country is losing large tax revenue to the govt and if this could be prevented, then the country could retain the professionals migrating owing to heavy taxing. more..

Oct 9 (ST) An Indian company that official documents in Sri Lanka said had manufactured a stock of now-withheld immunoglobulin to the Health Ministry has denied it had anything to do with the medicines, leaving pressing questions about where the blood-based drug came from. Livealth Biopharma Pvt. Ltd. has now written to the NMRA asking for details of the Indian manufacturer, the SL importer, the Indian port of dispatch and more..

Oct 9 (FT) SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne slammed the Govt for not devising any solution to protect the country�s health sector, potentially jeopardising the citizens� right to life. �Even as the health sector grapples with the growing brain drain, with more and more professionals leaving the country, Govt has failed to put forth a viable solution. This is a consequence of the Govt�s flawed decision-making, which has resulted in a significant loss of human capital from the country,� more..

Oct 9 (FT} SJB) MP and CoPF Chairman on Friday brought to light a violation of his Parliamentary privileges by the SL Cosmetic Manufacturers Association (SLCMA). Dr. Harsha de Silva expressed his concerns about a breach of privilege under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act. His complaint was related to a letter dated 4 October 2023 written by the SLCMA Secretary Gayani Jayaratne. According to him, this letter raised concerns about the handling of more..

Oct 9 (CT) Flooding has impacted 64,834 individuals from 17,993 families in Matara as of 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Y. Wickramasiri, District Secretary of Matara, reported that within the Matara District alone, 23,108 people from 6,301 families have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the floods. At present, 41,726 individuals belonging to 11,692 families remain stranded in their affected areas. The floods have damaged 390 houses, with two houses being destroyed in the Matara District. more..

Oct 9 (ENS) A permanent solution to the conflict with SL, the inclusion of fisherfolk in the Scheduled Tribes category and infrastructure improvements were among the demands fisherfolk representatives placed with a team led by Union Minister for Fisheries Parshottam Rupala during their visit to the coastal delta districts this past weekend. The union minister along with Minister of State for Fisheries L Murugan on Saturday and Sunday toured the districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, more..

Oct 9 (AD) Veteran actor Jackson Anthony has passed away after being treated for 14 months at the National Hospital in Colombo. He was 65. The popular actor has been hospitalised since an accident on July 2, 2022. He had reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at the ICU of the Colombo National Hospital this morning. Anthony and two other people including his younger brother Saman Anthony were injured after more..

Oct 9 (DM) Emboldened by the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the expulsion of Nazeer Ahamed from the SLMC leading to the termination of his parliamentary seat, the SLPP said it would seriously consider similar disciplinary action against around 25 of its MPs who broke ranks with it, a party official said. Supreme Court ruled in favour of the decision by the SLMC to expel Nazeer Ahamed after he left the party and accepted the post of Environment Minister in the govt. more..

Oct 9 (CT) While Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe was attending the 149th anniversary celebration of Chenkaladi Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Batticaloa yesterday, livestock farmers staged a protest demanding the removal of encroachers from their pasture land. During the event, the President unveiled an ambitious 10-year initiative aimed at boosting agriculture and tourism in the Eastern Province, with a focus on the development of Trincomalee. more..

Oct 9 (TM) Opposition MP, Gevindu Cumaratunga charged that the Finance Ministry�s continued postponement of answering a question related to the Employees� Provident Fund (EPF), in Parliament, raises serious concerns about state policy and transparency. The opposition MP alleged that there is a significant difference between the interest rates paid in 2022 for the EPF for Central Bank officers, and EPF. more..

Oct 9 (FT) The IMF team that visited Sri Lanka to conduct the first review of the EFF of March 2023 � a bailout package extended to Sri Lanka � has praised the people of SL for showing remarkable resilience in the face of the economic catastrophe that engulfed them in 2022. Though people or the economy has not shown resilience in the present crisis, it seems that the IMF team has used this sugar-coated phrase as the entry point to make its mission in Sri Lanka acceptable to people. more..

Oct 9 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL), and the unmandated Ranil-Rajapaksa regime have plundered half of the future incomes of EPF and ETF through the Domestic Debt Restructuring (DDR) program, enforced from Sept 2023 until 15 Feb 2038. This article shows how CBSL performed this act of financial terrorism; how the catastrophic impact of DDR on pension funds is demonstrable through calculation; and proposes ways of reversing this damage. more..